Thermoelectric apparatus



Sept. 2, |924.4 1,506,962

- FK. w. ANDREWS THBRIOELECTRIC APPARATS F1170!! la? 14 1917 pif" A fw i 7 8 Q M W2k/'DY lwwwtoa Patented Sept. 2, 1924. -1

UNITED sTATEs-'PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. ANDREWS. OF WAPAKONETA. OHIO,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNY'MENT TO THE SUPERIOR RFR-IGERATING COMPANY. 0F WAPAKONETA, OHIO, A COR- PORATION OF OHIO.

THERMOELECTRIC APPARATUS.

Appnu'aubn ined May 14, 1911. semi No. 168.526. 1

To /fZfw/Lom it may concern.'

Be it known that I', FRANK lV. Nmuzws.

citizen of the United States, residing at lVaakoneta, inthe count)v of Auglaize and ISJtateof Ohio,havc invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thcrmoclcct ric Apparatus, of which thc following is a specie cation.

My invention relates to a thermo electric apparatus in which a reduction ot temperature is eti'ected electrically bi' means ot a thermo electric battery or'thermopile i11- volving the theory or principlecommonly known as Peltier`s effect. j c] f The object of the invention is to-p'roride improved form of electrical insulation for the thermo electric couples or pairs which will obviate short circniting without atleeting the variation of temperature induced by the apparatus.

`Witl1 the above primary and other incidental objects in View as will more lull)v uppear in the specification. the invention consists of the features of construction. the parts and combinations thereof. anil the mod". otl operation or their eqnivaients, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to thc drau'ings- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the thermo electric battery or thermopile. as adapted for embodiment in rfrigcrating apparatus. Fig. Q is a side elevation partly in section illustrating the, contact or juncture of thc members comprising' the thermo electric couples or pairs. Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views illus trating the form of lioint or juncture bei tween the individual members ot cach thermo electric couple. A

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several 'views The present invention is dependent to some extentI upon the principle or condition of electrical science pertaining to the heat;- ing or cooling of the juncture or contact point of two or more dissimilar metals connected in a circuit. or of different parts of one metal which are in dissimilar physical states to induce an electrical current between the extremities of such metallic members or bodies. or dissimilar parts thereof which is the recognized thcorv oF thermo electricity and partcularhY upon the converse of this Yknown as Pcltiers phenomenon.

rule or principle', viz, that the rise lor all of temperature at the juncture of `two dissimilar metals or two portions of the same metal in dissimilar physical state is eiected by the passage of an electric current from one metal or portion to the other across the iuncturc. This thermal etl'ect is distinct from the rise, of temperature due to the electrical resistance of the metal, and changes sign when the direction of the current across thc juncture is changed. This is what is il'fhilc Pelt ier s phenomenon has been more or less generally known heretofore, no.V ractical method has been devised for apying this vtheor \v or principle t'o practicall purposes.

let'crring to the drawings, i is a, refrigerator ol thc usual type of which 2 is the retrigcratiiui' compartment commonly known as thc "ice" compartment. and 3 is the commoditi' or chill compartment.` Thethermo electric batteriv or thcrmopile hereinafter described is pre t'erably located in the refrigerating or icc" compartment 2.,.In the commodity or chill compartment there is located :i thermostat l adapted to open and close certain electrical contacts whereby the operation ol' the thermopile is controlled. ln constitu-ting the thermal electric bat:n ter); or thcrmopile ral-ions metals of dissimilar physical properties may be employcd. ln pract icc. contacted bars of antimony and bismuth have bccn found most cllicicnt. however. other materials of the thermo electric series such a's'leadfzine, copper or iron ma \v he emploved'.V These .materials may be in the form of solid bars or may be granular or in thc form of chips or filings, i

l'n the dran-ings there have been `shown two series ot thernurelcctric members arranged in transverse rclnliou in a stack or pile cob house fashion. Fach one of the thermo electric members is enclosed in an insulating tube or closure ot heat conductive material preferably glass. The. series of electrical insulating containers or glass tubes al. o. as, 11.*. ar". a and a and at. each contain a. body or core of antimony. lThe transverse electrical insulating enclosures or glass tubes 7). be. 713. b5, b". b. and b each contain a body or core of bismuth. The enclosures or tubes 5 of both series are closed al th ir ends by rubber strippers 6,

which not only electrically tend to compensate for rotect and inies, but also sulate the enclosed metallic the ex )ansion therep of due to varying degrees o temperature.

'j closed body of antimony in throu l1Y the terminal stopper or insulating `plugg of the enclosure or container o1, with the enclosure core or body of antimony while a branch line connects with the enthe enclosure terminal sto or container a through the per' thereof. Likewise the opposite si e v of the circuit is connected through the termnal Stoppers 6 with the enclosed bodies for cores of bismuth in the enclosin tubes or containers lb* and b. In order t at the enclosed bodies or cores may make electrical contact one with the other, the insulatin enclosures or tubes 5 are notched or recesse as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The enclosure or ilsubo ofende uembr of therxnaldelectri `ai is rovi e w` opposite y ispose rcuate xllotches 7 the radius of which is sub- Vfstantially gal to that of the transversal disposed tu or container to be engage These notches 7 are of suicient depth tf; exposefahe enclosed metallic bodies as at S. The op ing insulating container or enclosure illustrated in Fig. 5 is also Aprovided with o italy disposed arcuate notches 9 of smal er size the radius of which is substantially equal to that of the enclosed metallic body exposed at 8.in Fig. 4. These lgches 9 intersect the enclosed metallic tube. When these members are interlocked one with the other, the exposed `portion B of the enclosed metallic body of the first meminthe arcuate notches 9 of the second member, and within the notch or slight depression in the enclosed metallic body of the second member, with which it makes electrical contact. At the same time ber engages with the exterior periphe of the insulatingpenclosure or tube of t e second member engages within the arcuate notches 7 of the rst member to make a perfect insulating 'oint therewith. The enclosed metallic dies may be electrically united in any suitable manner, and if the thermopile -isto be submerged in a brine tank or employed in other association where moisture mi enter the 'oints of the insulating containers 5, suc containers may be united or hermetically sealed. By arranging, the thermo-electric members transversely in double series as shown in Fig. 1, four se iarate series of juncture points are provi ed.

i Under the established rule ci thermal electricity, the electro motive force lor effect oi the succession of junctures of the multipliof the second insulating enclosure or4 cation of the thermal electric couples or pairs is the sum of the separate Iion-ces or effect for the successive junctures. Therefore the capacity of the a paratus for re frigeratin purpose may e increased or diminishe in proportion to the number of thermo-electric members and the number of juncture points provided.

From t e above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage beo'e' enumerated as desirable but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction or errancement of parts, without departing from t e principle involved 'or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in 'order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to certain structural features, it is to'be understood that the inyention is not limited to any specific detailsbut that the means and construction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into effect and the inf vention is -therefore claimed broadly in any of-1ts possible forms or modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims. y Having thus described my invention, I 013.1111

1 In a construction of the Vcharacter described, a pair of thermo electric elements, arr transversely in relation one with the ot er, a tubular enclosure for each elepoint of intersection to expose the element 1n one enclosure to contact with theelement in the other enclosure, the juncture of the closures being sealed.

2 In, a construction of the character described, cylindrical thermo electric elements, c lindrical tubular enclosures therefor one e ement and enclosure therefor having t erein an arcuate notch having a radius substant1ally efuivalent to that of the other cylindrical e ectro thermal element, the other element enclosure having therein an arcuate notch, the radius of which substantially agrees with that of the first enclosure, the e ement within the second enclosure being unnotched, the notched portions of said enclosures being intercn d angularly one with the other with t e elements making ontact through said notches.

3. In a construction of the character described, electro thermal elements 'a arly arranged in a criss cross stonk an inten communicating enclosures therefor within which the elements make contact one with the other.

4. In construction of the character de scribed, a plurality of intersectin tubular enclosuresangularlyarranged in re ationono with Ianotltcl', and contacting thermo electric moesenl a elements enclosed within said tubular en- 7. In n construction of the character declosures. scribed, a pair of thermo electric members, 5. In a. construction of the character de-' one of said members having therein a notch scribed, a plurality of angularly arranged in which the other member 1s engaged, tubu 25 5 thermo electric elements, tubular enclosures lar enclosures for said elements one of which therefor, thc enclosed elements Separated is notched to receive therein the enclosure into a lurality of series and stacked with of the other element, the other of which is,

ci) elements of different series, alter notched to accommodate the element ennating wlth each other vin substantially cob closed in the first mentioned enclosure. 30 10 house fashion, said tubular enclosures havn a construction of the characterdeing registering openings 'therein throu h scribed, a plurality ofnonconductive memwhich the thermo electric elements ma e bers having.thermo electric cores, seidmexm. contact one with another. bers having interlocking notches wherein In a construction of the character dethe cores are exposed for contact one with 35 15 scribed, a ypair of thermo electric members, another.

tuhuhxr enclosures therefor, said enclosures In testimony whereof I have hereunto set bmlg notched and arranged with the notches myhand this 5th dsvi May A; D. 1917. o 4t1 i e respective enclosures in registry one l RA W. ANDREWS. l with the other, said elements making contact Witnesses: 20 one with he other through the md 1 Joanv F. Feuer, notches. Fiumi Mormon. 

